Abstract
Biomaterials that successfully integrate into surrounding tissue should match not only the tissue’s mechanical properties, but also the dimensions of the associated nano-structured extra-cellular matrix (ECM) components. The goal of this research was to use these ideals to develop a synthetic, nano-structured, polymeric biomaterial that has cytocompatible and mechanical behaviors similar to that of natural vascular tissue. In a novel manner, poly-lactic acid/polyglycolic acid (PLGA) (50/50 wt.% mix) and polyurethane were separately synthesized to possess a range of fiber dimensions in the micron and nanometer regime. Preliminary results indicated that decreasing fiber diameter on both PLGA and PU enhanced arterial smooth muscle cell adhesion; specifically, arterial smooth muscle cell adhesion increased 23% when PLGA fiber dimensions decreased from 500 to 50 nm and increased 76% on nano-structured, compared to conventional structured, polyurethane. However, nano-structured PLGA decreased endothelial cell adhesion by 52%, whereas adhesion of these same cells was increased by 50% on polyurethane. For these reasons, the presentin vitro study provides the first evidence that polymer fiber dimensions can be used to selectively control cell functions for vascular prosthesis.
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Miller, D.C., Thapa, A., Haberstroh, K.M. et al. An In Vitro Study of Nano-fiber Polymers for Guided Vascular Regeneration. MRS Online Proceedings Library 711, 321 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-711-GG3.2.1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-711-GG3.2.1